Compare towns
Lebanon vs Weare vs Plainfield vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lebanon | Weare | Plainfield | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
9,170 |
2,522Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Weare and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.